Brown Hits Back On White House Spending Freeze Push

Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) isn't mincing words about the White House's push to freeze domestic discretionary spending. The Ohio progressive took direct aim today at the idea and its supporters, who he suggested are largely the reason the country faces such major fiscal imbalances in the first place.

"I don't think much of it," Brown told reporters.

Start with this: The people who have been most outspoken about debt are the people most responsible for it.... The people, as I said, who have been most outspoken against the budget deficit have been those that voted for the Iraq war, and charged it to our kids, those who voted for the giveaway to the drug and insurance industry in 2003 and charged it to our kids, and those who voted who tax cuts for the rich and charged it to our kids, and those who ignored infrastructure needs in this country for a decade and charged that to our kids. And they come and they're screaming the loudest about the balanced budget. And that disturbs me.

His statements reflect the mood of many progressives, who have reacted poorly to yesterday's news.

About The Author

Brian Beutler is TPM's senior congressional reporter. Since 2009, he's led coverage of health care reform, Wall Street reform, taxes, the GOP budget, the government shutdown fight and the debt limit fight. He can be reached at brian@talkingpointsmemo.com